Tank and The Bangas

Tank and the Bangas delve into the most tender and transformative moments of life’s journey. With a vibrant sound that could only come from New Orleans, lead vocalist and poet Tank has stretched her expressive voice across quirky raps, vivid spoken word, and lush melodies since the group’s debut album Think Tank in 2013. Their breakout moment came four years later, when they won NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest with an electrifying, genre-defying performance — now viewed over 14 million times and praised by artists like Miguel and Anthony Hamilton.

Now, Tank and the Bangas return with The Heart, The Mind, and The Soul, a three-part album that reflects on beginnings, endings, and the often messy in-betweens. Recently awarded Best Spoken Word Poetry Album at the 2025 GRAMMYs, the project marks a bold step in both concept and sound. The idea first came to Tank two years ago while on a train with her bandmates. Since then, she has carefully shaped each chapter with distinct collaborators, cohesive soundscapes, and an elevated focus on poetry.

“It explores self-discovery, the journey to confidence, believing in your ability, matters of the heart, the mind, and just free thought flowing,” Tank shares.

The first installment, The Heart, produced by James Poyser, sees Tank fluidly shifting between poetry and her signature velvet alto as she reflects on love, loss, and healing. The opening track, “A Poem Is,” features a guest appearance by Jill Scott — a full-circle moment for Tank, whose mission with this release is to champion poetry as a vital, respected musical form.

“I want poetry to get more recognition,” she says. “I want young people to see it as powerful, expressive, and cool again.”

Though she’s long been a poet at heart, Tank originally leaned into singing to draw people into her storytelling. With this album, she returns to her first love — evident in tracks like “Open to Thy Self,” written in a cottage in the Netherlands, where she offers a vulnerable, loving conversation with herself through all her phases of growth.

Each chapter of the album introduces a unique sonic world, shaped by a different producer. The Mind was crafted with Iman Omari, known for his lo-fi, dreamy textures, which drew out a more introspective, groove-heavy side of Tank. For The Soul, she teamed up with Robert Glasper, whose improvisational sessions created space for free-flowing ideas and melodic discovery.

Among all the music, one track holds a special place in her heart: “This Black Girl,” co-produced by Kaidi Tatham. It’s a triumphant declaration of the beauty, power, and complexity of Black girlhood — while also acknowledging the intersecting challenges of misogyny and racial privilege. “I think it’s one of the best poems in history,” Tank says. “Yeah, I said it.”

With The Heart, The Mind, and The Soul, Tank and the Bangas affirm the richness, contradictions, and beauty of the self. “I’m writing about my own experience — feeling more open, more free, more confident,” says Tank. “Before, even though I had such a big voice, I sometimes felt quieted. It feels good to stretch on my own terms.”